bwaahhh??? a cursory google search wasn't very enlightening... teach me your ways, wise one!

Edit: oh, I see... compilation mode. I've now set C-c c and C-c r to 'compile and 'recompile respectively. thanks!

better yet i've added an after-save-hook to 'recompile so when i save the site is updated by the time i alt-tab over to the browser and reload!

    M-x eval-expression RET (add-hook 'after-save-hook 'recompile)

C-x c